https://spitalfieldslife.com/2021/09/22/london-the-ever-changing-city/ In the midst of life I woke to find myself living in an old house beside Brick Lane in the East End of London Wed, 22 Sep 2021 12:14:30 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 https://spitalfieldslife.com/2021/09/22/london-the-ever-changing-city/#comment-1411794 Wed, 22 Sep 2021 12:14:30 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=188811#comment-1411794 Thank you Gillian for this clear minded synopsis of the changes that have taken place in London over the centuries. As a Londoner I have seen a few changes during my lifetime. I am now a resident in Redbridge which was once just another of the green fields surrounding but is now an extension of East London . Where I now live we are part of the ever changing cycle that affects all Londoners. Speaking of cycles our local council recently introduced road closures that blocked cars from entering back streets and forcing them onto main roads in order to encourage use of bicycles and improve the environment. I understand there have been similar changes in most other boroughs in London, where the road closures have created uproar with particularly with drivers unable to get to their destination. The uproar was such that it forced the council to withdraw the road blocks. I must admit at first I was one of those that agreed with the protesters but after finding out it was the local Conservative opposition councillors that were behind most of the internet agitation It gave me cause for thought.
Surely we need to face up to the fact that these events are a sign of the beginning of the end of private car ownership. Our roads are clogged with super-sized vehicles with one person at the wheel. The environment is slowly being poisoned regardless of the fact that the car is electric or not. There has to be another solution as to how we get about and do our shopping. The changing faces of London over time is evidence to this .
For those people who are shouting and screaming about the roads being blocked and their loss of access to easy routes, there is a light what shines at the end of the tunnel. Have they actually thought about what will become of the drives at the front of their house that they own, that will just become a useless empty space when there no longer are any private cars about in London? They will no doubt be built upon and it will greatly increase the value of their property in an improved and more attractive environment for all Londoners

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